Palestinian official says not received French report on Arafat's death

Palestinian official says not received French report on Arafat's death

RAMALLAH, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian committee probing late leader Yasser Arafat's death did not receive the French report which concluded differently from an earlier Swiss investigation into the case, its chairman said Tuesday.

Tawfiq Tirawi told Xinhua that the Palestinian side was still waiting for the report to come officially.

Media reports have said that the French inspectors ruled out in their report that Arafat was poisoned, while earlier, Swiss experts said their tests provided some support for the idea the Palestinian leader was poisoned by radioactive polonium.

"We can't give a reaction to these reports until we have officially received the French investigation report," said Tirawi.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Minister of Justice Ali Muhana told Xinhua that the Palestinian judiciary apparatuses are in contact with their French counterparts to follow up the results of the French investigation.

"So far we haven't received any official French report related to the investigation into Arafat's death," said Muhana. "What has been already published by the mass media, is aiming at creating confusion."

Arafat died of a mysterious disease on Nov. 11, 2004 at a French hospital. The Palestinians accused Israel for killing him by poison, which Israel firmly denies.